after a scandal, wooyoung, a defunct k-pop idol, runs away to his sister's hometown. he craves anonymity, yet his quiet routine is disrupted by a chance encounter- a local with a warm presence, who offers him a glimpse of a life beyond the spotlight...
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to wooyoung, the sight in front of him was almost unbelievable.
choi san was in his room, sitting on a chair by the small study desk, the baby pink towel that hana had given him to help him dry himself hanging around his neck. his formerly drenched hair had slightly dried off. strands clung together in uneven clumps and a few wayward locks hung limply across his forehead. the rest of his hair had started to regain some of its natural volume, though it remained matted in places where the water hadn't yet evaporated.
his face glistened after being wiped clean of raindrops, and his bright and sparkly eyes were fixed on hana, who leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.
even in a situation like this, that perpetually boyish grin of his found its way onto his face.
hana and san exchanged comments about the weather while wooyoung occupied himself with fidgeting through his compact wardrobe, in search of clothes that san could change into. besides the fact that san was probably cold, there was no way on earth that wooyoung could sit normally when the cloth of san's black buttoned-up shirt was clinging to his frame in an almost inappropriate way. the mere thought of that image made him so uncomfortable that he couldn't bring himself to listen in on their conversation.
wooyoung finally found a pair of grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt. he walked over to san, trying to keep his composure, and trying even harder to keep his eyes down.
"here, these should fit you," wooyoung said, doing his best to sound unbothered.
the gesture caused san to turn his head away from hana, and wooyoung's gaze fell on san's chunky digital wristwatch as he extended his hand to take the clothes. even the skin of his arms seemed more radiant post-rain, with protruding veins emerging from beneath his cuffed sleeves and running all the way up to his fingers.
san took the clothes with a teasing smile, his eyes twinkling with that same mischievous energy that wooyoung remembered so well. "thanks, woo. you really saved me today."
wooyoung shrugged, avoiding direct eye contact as much as he could. the nickname provoked something in him, immediately making his heart skip a beat. "it's alright."
hana checked her watch and sighed. "alright, boys, i have to get to work. the rain's not going to stop me from clocking in." she pushed off from the doorframe, turning both the boys' heads in her direction.
wooyoung looked at her, eyebrows raised. "in this weather? how are you going to get there?"
the rain was still pounding outside, a relentless force that seemed determined to keep everyone indoors. hana gave a nonchalant shrug, her determination unwavering despite the storm.
"yeonjin's outside. she offered to pick me up. she's got a big car and said she's used to driving in this kind of rain. i'll be fine."
